Feline Friends to hold fashion show

Ladies-only event aims to spread the word about organisation's work


Elegance, grace and style; words synonymous with a feline, but also with a female. Both words (and worlds) come together next week when Abu Dhabi Feline Friends hosts a Ladies Fashion Show.

Organiser Anita Signorino explains, "I've wanted to do something different for Feline Friends for some time. We put on balls, which are big events, but I wanted something different perhaps reaching a different section of Abu Dhabi's community. If we can spread the word about the work of Feline Friends or gain even one cat 'foster mother' it will be wonderful."

Signorino is the trapping coordinator for Feline Friends, meaning that she organises or carries out the capturing of stray cats living on the streets and in the skips to be sterilised in an attempt to keep down feral population.

She continues, "As trapping coordinator I get to meet a lot of people. One of those I met was Lindsey Newton-Bell who, besides being a cat lover, works with fashion outlets here.

"Discovering this, I asked her help in organising a fund-raising fashion show. I also knew that Missy, who works at the American Veterinary Clinic, has previously organised similar events in Singapore.

"With the help of a friend, Jan Christie, who coordinated the models and the fashion outlets, I realised we could produce a Ladies Fashion Show."

The show will be for ladies only. On display will be fashions from four popular outlets: Nara Camicie, SP&Co., NEXT and Tammy Girl. Ten ladies have volunteered to glide down the catwalk, as have seven young girls, who will be modelling the Tammy Girl outfits.
As a child, Missy trained as a model, so Signorino asked her to choreograph the volunteers for the catwalk.

Comments Signorino, "All the models are non-professional. They are all cat lovers who have given up their time for this good cause."

To add the finishing touch, The Body Shop will be doing the models' make-up.

The Feline Friends Ladies Fashion Show will be held at The Club on Tuesday, November 18, starting 7.30pm.

Tickets cost Dh35 and can be purchased from the American Veterinary Clinic, the British Veterinary Clinic and The Club. All proceeds go to Feline Friends.